One of the most interesting things I've noticed over my experience is how important accountability and a sense of family can be to an individual. I've also seen how both of these factors can come together in the form of various programs designed to ensure that even if struggling those in the church community know they have a place to turn to that can help them. More and more I have read about programs that are helping to ensure that children have enough to eat on the weekends when they cannot receive a regular meal at school. Many members of the church volunteer their time to help not only their community, but those outside of it because they want to achieve a greater purpose by doing good for others. They also do a number of charity bike rides to help raise money for various community projects and provide activities for younger children so that they'll have a place to go when their parents are busy working.
Having a group of people that all know each other and generally like each other is astonishing to me. I work with over 100 people at my job and I'm still struggling to get to know half of them on what I would consider to be a friend based level. The church is so different everyone is open to listening about the problems each other faces and is ready and willing to help or give advice if needed. They have vision for their community and what they know needs to be changed. It's a force that has a lot of power especially come election season and one that I hope more political minds pay attention to. A number of problems could be alleviated and solved if more communities came together in a similar manner.
Kristie,
ReplyDeleteI applaud this church community for helping outside of their environment because we all know that students and family sometimes struggle and need a helping hand. I'm a very spiritual person and believing in helping others even though I may be struggling. I believe in giving. So often I see many church's who claim to be community friendly and all I see is collecting of tithes and they do not give back to the community but keep their offerings within the church community. I prefer to attend church's that know their church family and not just another face in the crowd.
I've noticed that in my community, the church does a lot of the heavy lifting as well. I know that I have personally refused to go to churches that are in a working class area but have ridiculous sound and video set ups because it shows that the priorities are not in the right place! I work in the Sanford community, and it is amazing how much outreach and service work the churches in the area do. There are people of all ages donating both time, money, and resources to families that need it. It makes me so happy to know that I work and worship in such a loving community.
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